Smiths Falls 911 dispatch upgrade needed to meet Next Generation 911 requirements and ensure compliance
SMITHS FALLS — An upgrade to Smiths Falls’ emergency dispatch system was approved following discussion at the April 13 committee of the whole meeting and later passed at council.
Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough presented a report recommending the town proceed with a Computer Automated Dispatch (CAD) system upgrade, to be sole sourced to Bell at a cost of $131,687.40, including non-rebateable HST – still under the $138,000 budget.
The upgrade is required to ensure the town’s system meets new standards tied to the transition to Next Generation 911, which will require dispatch centres to undergo certification confirming equipment is fully operational and compliant.
Chesebrough told committee the upgrade is a critical component of that transition, allowing the system to handle new 911 requirements and integrate with dispatch radio and municipal mapping.
The town has set aside funding for the project over the past three years, but CAD upgrades are not eligible for provincial grant support tied to the Next Generation 911 rollout.
The report also highlights time pressures tied to the purchase, noting Bell provided a quotation with a limited acceptance window due to hardware availability and fluctuating pricing.
As the town’s current CAD provider, Bell is the only vendor able to complete the upgrade, leaving sole sourcing as the only option.
Because the cost exceeds staff approval limits, the project required council approval through a bylaw, which was passed at council following the committee recommendation with an upset limit of $138,000.
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